Money

The fake email will tell you the FTC is trying to distribute the money from the recent huge government settlement with Western Union. And, they say, they’re trying to ensure you get your share, if you’ll just be so kind as to provide them access to your bank account and other financial information.

If you simply tell your children that you want them to give a portion of their inheritance to their children, there is no guaranty that they will actually do that and they are not legally required to do so.

Ageism does exist and is difficult to maneuver. However, your enthusiasm and willingness to stay current with your field’s technology and jargon will allow a prospective employer to feel your wisdom without thinking about your age.

What if your creditor is Uncle Sam? The IRS can levy your IRA if you owe them money. Typically, the IRS will go after other assets first, but you should know your IRA is not off limits. And to add insult to injury, the distributions levied will be taxable income to you.

It’s also common for working people to assume that when they retire, their tax rate will be lower. That might be true, but not always. So when you retire, or when you begin taking required minimum distributions beginning at age 70 ½, or after you pass away and your heirs inherit your accounts, there could be a nasty tax surprise waiting.

Since I no longer receive bank statements, I called my bank to check on my balances and was shocked to find out one of my accounts had been reduced to approximately half of its value since my son started acting for me.

You should know, playing a foreign lottery is illegal, by phone or by mail. If you are told you won a prize but you must pay for it in any way (by wiring money, by gift card or prepaid card) you are being scammed, says the FTC.

A lot of parents and grandparents do cosign. Between 2005 and 2015, consumers age 60 and up became the fastest growing group of student loan borrowers...Unfortunately, as a result, an increasing number of people age 65 and up have defaulted on their federal student loans and now they’re finding their Social Security checks docked to repay the debt.

What should you do if your loved one has passed away, leaving important items in a safe deposit box that you can’t access? The answer depends on the state where the safe deposit box is, which means you may have to contact an attorney in that state.